Women across Salford are being invited to the launch of a new commission set up to address the key issues affecting women and girls across the city.
The new Salford Women and Girls’ Commission aims to provide a voice for many women who feel marginalised in their communities and to help develop strong actions to support them locally.
Its first meeting will take place virtually on Monday, November 29 with women from all backgrounds, including those from ethnic minorities, trans women and the LGTBQI community, those with disabilities and women who care for others asked to attend to engage with the independent commission.
The first meeting will see attendees discuss the key issues that women and girls face in Salford alongside a core group of 18 women from organisations across Salford’s community, business, public and private sectors. This core group is made up of individuals with unique experiences who will take the prioritised topics for further discussion and action.
Councillor Sharmina August, Lead Member for Inclusive Economy, Anti-poverty and Equalities and co-chair of the commission, said: “For too long, the women and girls of Salford have needed a platform to help them speak freely and to confront the issues that we face daily in our city.
“The commission will provide that safe place for us to develop the right solutions so that women in Salford feel safer in this city and have access to services who are there to support them.
“The women of Salford are extraordinary, and I invite all who want to use their voice to help us enact change in our city to get in touch so we can deliver a safer Salford for all of us.”
Salford CVS will run the introductory session via Zoom from 1pm until 3pm with the organisation working with Salford City Council to facilitate the commission.
Alison Page, CEO of Salford CVS and member of the commission core group said: “Women have borne the brunt of Covid – in terms of increased caring responsibilities, rising domestic abuse, employment fragility, and much more – all in the context of significant low pay and the entrenched gender pay gap that exists in society.
“We know that many women and girls face daily violence, abuse and intimidation. The murder of Sarah Everard, amongst hundreds of other women, has raised awareness of the fact that many women and girls do not feel safe – in the home, on the streets – and evidence shows that rape prosecutions are becoming rarer.
“Women may hold up half the sky – and make up 50% of our population – but we need to do more and do it faster to make society a fairer and more equitable place for women and girls. I welcome the development of this new Salford Women and Girls Commission.”
Following the introductory session, the core group will prioritise the key issues highlighted in the meeting and work together to frame solutions over six meetings before presenting its key recommendations to Salford City Council after a year.
You register for this event by clicking here – https://www.salfordcvs.co.uk/
